The Veteran Issue 7
The Quarterly Magazine of the Alicante Branch of the Royal British Legion, issue 7 September 2022
The Quarterly Magazine of the Alicante Branch of the Royal British Legion, issue 7 September 2022
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Poets<br />
Corner<br />
A Soldier Died Today<br />
He was getting old and paunchy And his hair was falling fast,<br />
And he sat around the Legion, Telling stories of the past.<br />
Of a war that he once fought in And the deeds that he had done,<br />
In his exploits with his buddies; <strong>The</strong>y were heroes, every one.<br />
And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors His tales became a joke,<br />
All his buddies listened quietly For they knew where of he spoke.<br />
But we'll hear his tales no longer, For ol' Joe has passed away,<br />
And the world's a little poorer For a Soldier died today.<br />
He won't be mourned by many, Just his children and his wife.<br />
For he lived an ordinary, Very quiet sort of life.<br />
He held a job and raised a family, Going quietly on his way;<br />
And the world won't note his passing, 'Tho a Soldier died today.<br />
When politicians leave this earth, <strong>The</strong>ir bodies lie in state,<br />
While thousands note their passing, And proclaim that they were<br />
great.<br />
Papers tell of their life stories From the time that they were young<br />
But the passing of a Soldier Goes unnoticed, and unsung.<br />
Is the greatest contribution To the welfare of our land,<br />
Some jerk who breaks his promise And cons his fellow man?<br />
Or would you want a Soldier, His home, his country, his kin,<br />
Just a common Soldier, Who would fight until the end.<br />
He was just a common Soldier, And his ranks are growing thin,<br />
But his presence should remind us We may need his likes again.<br />
For when countries are in conflict, We find the Soldier's part<br />
Is to clean up all the troubles That the politicians start.<br />
If we cannot do him honor While he's here to hear the praise,<br />
<strong>The</strong>n at least let's give him homage At the ending of his days.<br />
Perhaps just a simple headline In the paper that might say:<br />
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, A SOLDIER DIED<br />
TODAY."<br />
Unknown<br />
After <strong>The</strong> War<br />
<strong>The</strong>re’s a tear in the fabric of his being<br />
... Where the memories lie waiting to remind him<br />
... Of the horror and the carnage<br />
That is cataloged as war<br />
Which civilians never see<br />
For it’d shatter their reality<br />
And leave them in a state of what<br />
To call it I don’t know<br />
But it’s tipped the balance<br />
Of the G I Joe<br />
Who comes to calmer waters<br />
Where life’s normal once again<br />
But he’s having trouble fitting in<br />
For he’s shaken bad internally;<br />
it’s a price they paid for defending<br />
But the dreams are never ending.<br />
Or the ordinary fellow Who in times of war and strife,<br />
Goes off to serve his country And offers up his life?<br />
<strong>The</strong> politician's stipend And the style in which he lives,<br />
Are often disproportionate, To the service that he gives.<br />
While the ordinary Soldier, Who offered up his all,<br />
Is paid off with a medal And perhaps a pension, small.<br />
It is not the politicians With their compromise and ploys,<br />
Who won for us the freedom That our country now enjoys.<br />
Should you find yourself in danger, With your enemies at hand,<br />
Would you really want some cop-out, With his ever waffling stand?<br />
Social Media<br />
Tell me, which is the winner, pen or sword?<br />
Soldier or poet, who should we applaud?<br />
Debates may rage over the rule of things,<br />
By foolish governments or noble kings,<br />
And still the people wonder what is best,<br />
What suits the few will never suit the rest,<br />
Forget if sword is mightier than pen:<br />
Lies on the Internet beat both of them!<br />
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